Tonbridge and Malling

Tonbridge and Malling's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Tonbridge and Malling increased by 12%, from almost 108,000 to 121,000.

The addition of just over 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tonbridge and Malling was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tonbridge and Malling

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tonbridge and Malling increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 16% of people in Tonbridge and Malling are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Tonbridge and Malling

The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.8%, while the percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Tonbridge and Malling

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 16,000 in 2001 to about 33,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 82,000 in 2001 to just under 77,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 8,400 to about 8,500. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.8% to 7.0%.

About 750 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 330 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population without a religion in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tonbridge and Malling, but at a slower rate than in Thurrock (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Tonbridge and Malling).

In Tonbridge and Malling, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.0% in 2001 to 10% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Thurrock increased from 6.5% to 14%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Tonbridge and Malling remained close to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 71%.

Private renting in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tonbridge and Malling working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.4% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Tonbridge and Malling

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 760 in 2001 to about 2,400 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 2.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 760 to about 1,700 (from 0.7% to 1.4%).

Just over 420 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 150 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Tonbridge and Malling, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.8% to 11% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 24%, while the percentage of households in Tonbridge and Malling which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 45% to 40%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Tonbridge and Malling that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.0% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Tonbridge and Malling increased from 24% to 28%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that were unemployed increased from 1.9% to 3.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that were self-employed increased from 9.6% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 2.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Tonbridge and Malling remained close to 2.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Tonbridge and Malling

The percentage of households with children changed very little here, while the proportion increased in nearby Thurrock.

In Tonbridge and Malling, the proportion of households with children stayed close to 33% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Thurrock increased from 32% to 35%.

Across the South East, the share of households with children increased from 29% to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Tonbridge and Malling remained close to 57%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.9% to 10%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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